Traveling carillons and chimesworldwide

Early in the 20th century, the first traveling or mobile carillon was constructed
using conventional tower bells.
Since then, several more transportable instruments have been produced.
Most were originally intended to publicize the work of a particular bellfoundry.
Some have been built on trucks or trailers, while others have been built with independent
frames that can be carried by trucks or trailers.
In the most recent development, small bells are hung in several small frames which can be
rolled off the transport vehicle and reassembled with the keyboard
at an indoor or outdoor concert venue.

This index page lists all known mobile or transportable carillons and chimes,
both past and present.

Existing traveling carillons and chimes

These instruments are listed in approximate order of establishment at the present
center of operations (unknown first).
Links are to the site data pages which describe the instruments.

Former traveling carillons which no longer exist

Links are to the relevant paragraphs of regional pages about defunct instruments.
Instruments without links are not further described elsewhere, though they do
have entries in the appropriate foundry index pages.

The Eijsbouts bellfoundry built a 35-bell travelling carillon in 1949,
with a bass bell of C2; this was in use until at least 1954.
In 1955 it was replaced with a new instrument of 37 bells,
having the same size bass bell.
In 1967 it is believed to have been replaced with another new 37-bell instrument
having the same size bass bell.
The dispositions of these three instruments are all unknown,
though it is reported that one of them may have been installed at Bolsward, Netherlands.

Former traveling carillons and chimes
which have been transferred or transformed

These instruments are listed in approximate order of original manufacture.
Links are to the site data pages which describe the present instruments,
or to the relevant paragraphs of regional pages for relocated instruments.

In 1982, the Verdin Company
put new bells from the Petit & Fritsen bellfoundry
on the frame from the Pepsi Carillon to make a new traveling carillon for
John P. Hall,
of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
In 1992 that instrument was reported sold to a private investor to become the basis
for the Pennsylvania-based "CariBelle" (see above).
But the evidence is somewhat confusing, because that instrument is also reported
to have been installed on its present frame in 1991,
and a former travelling carillon is reported to have provided the bells which are
now at St.John's Westminster Union Church, Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 1981, Paccard made a travelling carillon of 49 bells
which was based in Douai, France.
A 50th bell was added by Paccard in 1989.
This instrument was used by the carillon school there, as well as for special events,
and also travelled all across Europe.
In 2005, it was disassembled, and the bells were installed in
the city hall of Dordrecht, Netherlands.

In 1986, Eijsbouts constructed a travelling carillon of 47 or 48 major-third bells,
and made it available for display and use at the World Carillon Congress
which was held in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that year.
In 1991, these bells (and the main frame) were used to form the core of a
53-bell carillon in Dallas, Texas.

The Papageno travelling carillon was built in 1990
to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the Swiss Federation,
using bells cast in 1967 for Libingen, Switzerland.
It was later sold, and is now based in
Soest, Netherlands.

Eijsbouts built a travelling carillon of conventional bells in 1991-92;
it traveled all over Europe for many years
before being transferred to the USA in 2008 (see index above).

A 16-bell traveling chime constructed by Taylor in 2001 was dismantled in 2008,
and its bells were incorporated into the York Minster carillon.